The Wallace

We chose the Wallace restaurant to celebrate a friend's significant birthday as it was supposed to be “special” Specially awful was a better description! Everything we chose from the menu was “no longer available” – this included starters as well as main courses. There was no menu du jour only the vegetarian menu. We couldn't have chips as the chip maker was not on duty. When I asked the maitre d' for an explanation, I was told that the restaurant had been very quiet over the Olympics so they had cut back on buying in food and had been caught on the hop the day we went because “so many people had turned up” However, if we were happy to wait, she would pop over to Waitrose and get something…! The birthday celebration turned out to be a bit of a damp squib and The Wallace has lost 7 potential repeat customers.

Not many people know that a few yards from the bustle of Oxford St is this oasis of calm and tranquillity, set inside a beautiful historic home, surrounding by a fascinating free museum. It’s not trendy, but it’s charming and attractive, with the courtyard feeling warm and cosy even in winter.
It’s a great place for a casual lunch with a friend, but would feel an odd choice for a business lunch. The restaurant has two parts, a proper restaurant and a lighter food part. I ate in the latter and three of us emerged for only £19 with main courses but no drinks.
Service was fine and I would definitely go again